Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart Collector's Edition

About

A scream in the night... a brutal crime... a mysterious figure with eyes red as blood. Can you get to the heart of this shocking murder?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart Collector's Edition screenshot

40%

Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews

atmosphere1 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features commendable voice acting and visual design, creating an engaging atmosphere.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as interactive hidden object scenes and collectible cards, provide a unique experience.
The bonus chapter offers a different perspective on the story, adding some depth to the overall narrative.

The plot is poorly executed, with an abrupt and confusing ending that leaves many questions unanswered.
The game is notably short, taking only a few hours to complete, which feels unsatisfactory compared to other titles in the series.
Technical issues, particularly with sound, detract from the overall experience, making it difficult to enjoy the game.

story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The story has been widely criticized for being disjointed and poorly executed, failing to effectively build on its intriguing premise inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." While some players appreciated the dark atmosphere and engaging gameplay, many found the plot confusing and unsatisfying, particularly due to a lack of resolution and minimal connection to the original source material. Overall, the narrative leaves much to be desired, especially for fans of Poe.
- “The game's plot takes players on a twisted journey inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale, 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' which initially had me engrossed with its dark and mysterious atmosphere.”
- “The story progresses through a mixture of notes and cutscenes.”
- “The extra chapter takes us 15 years in the past, to Dupin's very first case, which - it turns out - involves a character from the main story.”
- “The story makes no sense at all.”
- “The plot starts fairly well with a ritualistic murder of a young woman, but the game fails to capitalize on it in an interesting way.”
- “The story is poorly written and disjointed, and definitely not for someone who is an Edgar Allan Poe fan.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The gameplay received mixed reviews, with some players finding certain mechanics confusing while others appreciated its uniqueness and enjoyment. However, the overall experience was marred for some by a disappointing ending, despite acknowledging the gameplay and graphics as strong points.
- “Some of the mechanics in the main game were really confusing.”
- “I thought that the gameplay was really different.”
- “I give this a passing grade only for the gameplay and graphics.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music aspect of the game features four distinct tracks and allows players to adjust music, sound, and voice levels with separate sliders. However, some users have reported issues with audio quality, describing the sound effects and music as reminiscent of a record skipping.
- “The game features four distinct music tracks that enhance the overall experience.”
- “Options include separate sliders for music, sound, and voices, allowing for a fully customizable audio experience.”
- “The sound effects, music, and speech create an immersive atmosphere that draws you into the game.”
- “The music tracks are limited, with only four available.”
- “Sound effects, music, and speech all sound like they are coming from a record skipping.”
- “There are options for separate sliders for music, sound, and voices, but the overall audio quality is disappointing.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The graphics are praised for their enjoyable ambiance, contributing positively to the overall experience, with some reviewers indicating that they are a key factor in the game's appeal.
- “I really enjoyed the ambiance of the graphics.”
- “I give this a passing grade only for the gameplay and graphics.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
- “Character models are poorly designed and animations are stiff, making the visuals unappealing.”
- “The environments are bland and lack variety, which detracts from the overall experience.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game offers a strong replayability factor with 13 mini-games and 10 hidden object scenes (HOS) that players can revisit, providing varied experiences and challenges upon each playthrough.
- “The game features 13 replayable mini-games that keep the experience fresh and exciting.”
- “With 10 replayable hidden object scenes, there's always something new to discover.”
- “The variety of replayable content ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
- “The game features 13 mini-games, but they quickly become repetitive and lose their charm after a few plays.”
- “While there are 10 hidden object scenes, they don't offer enough variety to keep players engaged for multiple playthroughs.”
- “The limited replayability of the game makes it hard to justify returning to it after completing the main content.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," creating a dark and mysterious environment that captivates players and enhances the overall narrative experience.
- “The game's plot takes players on a twisted journey inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale, 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' which initially had me engrossed with its dark and mysterious atmosphere.”